Vending-machine.



J. FRITSCHE.

VENDING M ACH lNE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-6,1916.

, 1 1 99,066. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

50 52 66 wi TNEEs 46 fififiw' 60 572% g h. %/@M% BY w INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J FRITSCHE. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN-6,1916.

1 ,199,066. Q Patented Sept. 26,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES J. FRITSCHE.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED 1AN.6,1916.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

3 SHEETS--SHEET 3 INVENTOR WITNESSES flfifi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FBITSCHE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE IHIRD TO JOSEPH V. HORN AND ONE-'JJHIZRJDv TO FRANK HARDART, BOTH OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 6,1916. Serial No. 70,595.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN FRITscHE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented, a new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the following is a specification. 5

My present invention consists of a novel vending machine which may be employed to vend articles of any desired nature, but

which is especially adapted for the'vending of articles of food.

It further consists of a novel construc-. tion of a container having afront delivery opening and a rear replenishing opening, a novel construction and arrangement of doors for such openings, and novel means for controlling the operation of the front delivery door.

It further consists of a novel vending machine having a front delivery opening and a rear replenishing opening and provided with a door for the front delivery opening, said door being preferably unlocked by means of coin or check controlling mechanism, and provision being made to effect the locking of said door from the rear of the machine.

It further consists of a novel construction and arrangement of locking mechanism and novel means for operating such mechanism, whereby the machine is rendered not only fool proof but acts as a safety device to prevent injury to the intending purchaser 85 byhis fingers catching in the door during its closing operation.

It further consists of novel means for providing for the opening of the rear replenishing opening when the front delivery 40 door is closed and for locking the, door of the rear replenishing opening in its open tion consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and orgamzatlon of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

'Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of a coincontrolled vending machine 'embodyit necessary to show in the present instance but one unit of the vending machine construction, 1t being understood in practice that any desired number of superimposed containers as herein shown and described are employed,'each of which is provided with its independent locking mechanism which has an independent coin controlling mechanism to actuate it.

1 designates supporting standards which are connected together in any desired manner to form a frame-work, which carries the coin-controlling mechanisms 2 and the plates 3 which-form the front wall of the machine. cured thereto, in any desired manner, sheets of material, such as for example, ornamental platesfi, in order to increase theartistie appearance of the front of the machine.

Any desired type of coin controlled mechanism may be employed to control the front delivery door, but for purposes of illustration, I have preferred to show a type of mechanism which in its broad aspects corresponds to that described and generically claimed in my prior patent for fraud preventive device for coin' mechanism, granted to me on the 30th day of April, 1907, #852,111, to that disclosed in my prior Patent, #1938319, granted to me on the 26th day of October, 1909, for coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, and to that disclosed in my prior Patent Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

The latter, in practice, has seis connected with the frame-work 1 #1,039,508, granted to me on the 24th day of September, 1912.

The coin mechanism 2 is provided with a coin slot 5 into which the coin or check is inserted by the vintending purchaser from the front of the machine, and if such coin or check is of the proper dimension, it rolls down through the coin chute 5 and is discharged into a slot in a coin retainer 6, which is pivotally mounted on a post carried by the frame-work of the machine, and such coin is retained in the slot of the coin retainer 6 by its engagement with a stop pin 7 extending across the slot in the coin retainer.

8 designates a rock shaft which extends through the front wall of the machine and is provided with a grasping handle 9, which is manually actuated by the purchaser. The shaft 8 is journaled on the stationary side member 10 of the coin chute 5 and is provided with a spring 11, whereby the link 12 operatively connected with the pivoted side 13v of the coin chute will maintain such pivoted side in its normally closed position.

The end of the shaft 8 has connected therewith an arm 14, having a shoulder 15, which travels in the path of a coin, which has been stopped in the receiver 6. The coin retainer 6 is provided with an opening 16 through its side wall and with a slot 17 opening through its bottom, and when the parts are in their normal position seen in Fig. 3, apin 18 adjustably carried by a pivoted plate 19 extends through the opening 16 and across the slot 17 to form a support for the coin receiver in the coin retainer. The plate 19 has a spring 20, interposed between the bottom of said plate and the bracket 21 which carries the coin mechanism, and said bracket 31 3 means of fastening devices 22, (see Fig. 1).

23 designates a threaded rod passing through the bracket 21 connected with the plate 19 and provided with nuts 24 which engage the bottom of the bracket 20 to limit the upward movement of the plate 19.

25 designates a lever arm, the inner end of which is pivoted to the bracket 21, and said lever extends over the pivoted plate 19 so as to be pressed down into c0ntact therewith, when desired, as will more clearly hereinafter appear.

The plate 19 is provided with a lug 26, with which is adapted to interlock a catch 27 carried by the coin retainer 6.

28 designates a link, one end of which is connected with the lever 25, while the other end thereof is connected with the coin retainer 6, so that these two elements move in unison. The pivoted member 13 of the coin chute is located over a chamber 29 in the bracket 21, and said chamber communicates with a passage 30, which communicates with a containerlocated on the front wall (not wardly shown) of the machine so that a coin of improper dimensions or a bogus coin will be returned to the intending purchaser if it has been stopped in the coin chute 5. When the coin retainer moves into the position seen in Fig. 1, the slot 17 in the bottom thereof is above a coin chute 31 formed" in the bracket 1 This pin 32 is provided with a groove 33 into which extends a lug 34 carried by a lever 35, the inner end of which is pivoted to the bracket-21 while its outer end is downwardly deflected alongside of the coin retainer 6 and is provided with a rounded face engaging a rounded portion of the coin retainer. When the coin retainer is moved into the position seen in Fig. 1, the pin 32 will be moved inwardly to close the coin slot, while when the parts are in the position seen in Fig. 3, the pin 32 does not extend sufficiently into the coin slot to prevent coins passing therethrough.

The inner end of the coin retainer 6 is connected by a link 36 with the door unlocking mechanism 37 which corresponds in construction to that disclosed in my prior Patent, #1,039,508, to which I have hereinbefore referred, and to which reference is directed for a detailed description of the construction.

In order that a clear understanding of the operation of the locking mechanism may be obtained, I will describe it in sufiicient detail. The link 36 is connected with a slidable plate 38 having inclined or cam slots 39 therein, through which extend pins 40 which are carried by pivoted levers 41. The outer ends of the pivoted levers 41 are provided with spring pressed locking plungers 42, which are adapted to enter the recesses 43 of the bottom plate 44 of a door 45. 4 This door 45 forms a closure for the front delivery opening 46 of an article container 47 which is secured to the front wall 3 of the frame-work in any desired manner. The door 45 is provided with a transparent front plate 48 and with a handle 49. whichlatter is adapted to be grasped by the intending purchaser.

50 designates catches secured to the bottom plate 44 and consisting of plates fixed to the bottom plate 44 in any desired manner and having their inner ends downdeflected andspaced from the juxtaposed wall of the bottom plate 44, so as to" form a space into which the locking plungers 42 are adapted to enter. It is to be being hinged thereto at its'top, asindicatedat 51. One of the side walls of a door 45 is recessed to receive a link 52, one end ofv which is pivoted thereto, as at 53, and said link is provided with a slot 54, into which extends a pin 55 carried by a bar 56 which is located within the container 47 in proximity to one of its walls, and said wall is provided with a slot 57, through which extend fastening devices 58 which are connected with a plate 59 having a flat bearing face 60 at its forward upper end and a shoulder 61 in rear of said face. The plate 59 is normally maintained in its forward position by means of a spring 62, one end of which is connected with said plate 59, while the other end thereof is fixed to a stationary portion of the machine. The side wall of a container 47 isprovided with a laterally extending slot 63, through which extends a bolt 64 fixed to the plate 59, so that said plate 59 is properly. guided in its movement.

65 designates a locking member for the plate 59 and consisting of a strip of material having its upper end laterally deflected, as at 66, and provided at its lower end with a downwardly extending lug 67. Thelocking member 65 is provided with a slot 68,

through which passes a pin 69 which is fixed to the side wall of the container 47, as will be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

7O designates a link having its forward portion 71 bent upwardly at an angle to the rest of the link and the extreme forward end is rounded.

72 designates a slot, through which the pin 64 extends, said slot extending longitudinally of the portion 71 of the link and then at an angle, as indicated at 73.

The link is pivoted at 74 and connected to a bracket 75. This bracket 75 is preferably secured to the door 76, which covers the rear replenishing opening 77, but may be separate therefrom, if desired. The bracket 75 extends downwardly beneath the container 47 to form a finger piece 78, which may be readily grasped by the attendant. The door 76 is preferably hinged to the upper end of the container 47, as at 79. The bottom wall of the link 71 is provided with a flattened face 80, with which engages a spring pressed plunger 81 carried by the side wall of a container 47. The plate 59 has connected therewith a lug 82 provided with a rounded face, with which coiiperates the rounded end 83 of an arm 84, which is fixed to the receiver 6 by means of a pin 85,

unison. The receiver 6 has cooperating therewith, a spring 87, which tends to move the receiver toward the container 47. The bottom of a container 47 preferably has connected therewith a heating device 88 which in practice is ordinarily a resistance coil connected with a source of electric supply.

The'operation of my novel vending machine will now be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, and is as follows: Assuming that the front door 45 which covers the front delivery opening is closed and locked, and that the article to be vended is within the container 47, the intending purchaser places a coin or check of the proper character and denomination in the coin chute 5, and if the deposited coin or check is of the proper dimension, it rolls through the coin chute 5 into the slot of the coin retainer 6, resting on the rod 18 and against the stop pin. The intending purchaser then partially rotates the handle 9 in the proper direction. to cause the shoulder 15 to engage the coin, and the pressure exerted. against the coin causes the catch 27 carried by the coin retainer 6 to'be released from the lug 26 on the spring pressed pivoted plate 19, and the spring 87 causes the rear end of the coin retainer to swing on the "post 89 on.

which it is fulcrumed toward the article container 47. This movement of the coin retainer 6' exerts a pull on the link 36, thereby moving in a longitudinal direction the cam plate 38 and causes the locking members 42 to be moved into their unlocked position and become disengaged from the door 45. At the same time, the lug 83 on the arm 84 contacts with the lug 82 on the plate 59, thereby moving said plate forwardly, the spring 62 assisting in such forward movement of the plate, and since the plate 59 is connected with the slotted link 52 by means of a pin extending into the slot, the door 45 will swing outwardly. The purchaser then grasps the handle 49, raises the door, and removes from the compartment of the container 47, the article which he has purchased. It has been found in practice that in some cases people try to beat the machine by placing a match stick or coin between the front delivery door, so that it does not completely close andlock. Then when the container has been refilled, the door can be opened for the removal of an article without inserting a coin or check in payment for it. In order to overcome this, I provide the catch 50 so that if the door is not completely closed, the spring pressed plunger 42 will so that the said arm and receiver move in door opening, so that the fingers of the intending purchaser .cannot be caught between the door and the wall of its opening. It will be seen that when the door swings open, the locking member moves downwardly, due to gravity and its own weight, since the link 52 which passes through a slot in the top of the container 47 and con tacts with the laterally deflected portion of the member 65 moves downwardly, due to the opening of the door. The lug 67 will engage the wall of the plate 59 with which it interlocks, and the lug 67 does not become disengaged with the coiiperating wall of the plate 59 until the bottom plate 44 has moved into the door opening. The attendant now grasps the finger piece 78 and moves the door 76 covering the rear replenishing opening 77 into the position seen in dotted lines in Fig. 5. As the lug 67 is now in elevated position, as seen in Fig. 4, owing to the link 52 raising the locking member 65, the plate 59 will be drawn rearwardly by the end Wall of the slot 73 of the link engaging with the pin 64. During this rearward movement of the plate 59, the lug82 engages the arm 84 and swings the coin retainer 6 on its pivot, thereby causing the link 36 to actuate the locking mechanism 37 and cause the spring pressed locking member 42 to interlock with the door. At the same time, the coin retainer 6 is returned to its initial position and the catch 27 interlocks with the lug 26. The springpressed plunger 81 engages a flattened face 80 and maintains the door 7 6 and its adjuncts in raised position.

The attendant now refills the container 47 and then closes the door 76 and the machine is ready to be again operated. It will be seen that if during the locking of the door, an obstruction is placed between the door 45 and the wall of its opening, the spring pressed plungers 42 will interlock with the catches 50. It will be noted that when the intending purchaser is holding the door open which covers the front delivery opening, it is impossible for the attendant to close the front delivery door from the rear of the machine, since the locking member 65 at such time is interlocked with the plate 59, so that the locking member 65 will act as a safety device to prevent injury to the intending purchaser.

The rearward movement of the link 70 when the front delivery door is in proper position effects the return of the front delivery mechanism and the resetting of the coin mechanism by returning thecoin retainer to its initial or operative posltion, so that a coin of the proper dimension passing through the coin chute 5 will be received and arrested in the coin retainer.

door into position to be locked. It also eifects the actuation of the locking It will also be seen that the attendant. in

the rear of the machine can efiect the unlocking of the front delivery opening by pressing down on the lever 25 and moving it to the right. WVhen the attendant presses down on the lever 25, the spring pressed plate 19 is moved downwardly, thereby releasing the lug 26 from the catch 27, thus permitting the coin retainer 6 to move to" the right to effect the release of the locking rows consisting of any desired number of units to a row.

It will be understood that when the machine is empty or the delivery door is open, any coins or checks inserted into the coin slot will be arrested therein and will be returned to the purchaser, when the handle 9 is actuated since this handle 9 efiects the opening of the pivoted door of the coin chute.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful vending machine,

which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and

. while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door for the delivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, means to actuate said locking mechanism, and devices to render said actuating means ineffective -to lock the door when it is partly open.

2. In a vending machine, a container open at opposlte ends and having a front delivery ing a front delivery opening and a rear relenishing opening, a door for the front deivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, a door for said rear replenishing opening and operatively connected with said locking mechanism to lock the front delivery door, and means to effect the unlocking of said front delivery door.

4. In a vending machine, a container having a front delivery opening and a rear replenishing opening, a door for the front delivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, a member to actuate said locking mechanism to effect the locking of said door,

devices actuated by said door'to render said member ineffective to lock the door when it is opened by the purchaser, and means to actuate said locking mechanism to unlock the door.

5. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door for the delivery opening and having its bottom provided with means to interlock with looking members, locking members adapted to engage said means when the door is fully closed, means carried by said door to engage said locking members when the door is partially closed, and means to actuate said locking mechanism to efiect the locking and unlocking of the door.

6. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door pivotally supported and covering the delivery opening, a link connected with said door, means to effect the locking of said door, means connected with said link to efl ect the opening of said door when unlocked, and means controlled by the position of said door to prevent the relocking of the door when it is open.

7. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted and covering the delivery opening, a link connected with said door and having a slot, a member having a lug movable in said slot, a tension device for said member, locking mechanism for said door, means to actuate said locking mechanism to effect the unlocking of the door, and means to actuate said member to effect the closing of said door to bring it into position to be locked.

8. In a'vending machine, a container hav- -ing a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted to cover the delivery opening, a slotted lmk carried "by said door, a member slidably mounted and having a lug engaging said slot, lock1 ing mechanism for said door, and means to actuate said member toeflect the opening of said door when unlocked.

9. In a vending machine, a container hav ing a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted to cover the delivery opening, a slotted link carried by said, door, a member slidably mounted and having a lug engaging said slot, locking mechanism for said door, a tension device for said member, and means to-actuatesaid member to effect the opening of said door when unlocked.

10. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted to' cover the delivery opening, a link carried by said door, a member movably mounted and operatively connected with said link to effect the opening of the door when unlocked,

locking mechanism for the door, means to connected with said door to efiect its open- I ing when unlocked and to effect its return when opened to locking position, means to actuate said locking mechanism and said member to effect the unlocking and opening of the door, and means to actuate said member to effect the locking of the door.

12. In a vending machine, a containerhaving a delivery opening and-a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted and covering the delivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, a member opera: tively connected with said door to efiect its opening when unlocked and to effect its return when opened to locking position, means to actuate said locking mechanism and said member to efiect the unlocking and opemng of the door, and a door for said replenishing opening and operatively connected with,

said member to effect the closing and relock opening when unlocked and to efi'ect its return when opened to locking position, means toactuate said locking mechanism and said member to effect the unlocking and opening of the door, a door for said replenishing opening and operatively connected vwith said member to effect. the closing and relocking of the door, and means to lock the door for the rear replenishing opening in its open position.

14. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted and covering the delivery opening, a member operatively connected with said door to effect its opening when unlocked, locking mechanism for said door, means to actuate said locking mechanism and said member to effeet the unlocking and opening of the door, a link having limited relative movement with respect to said member, a door for the rear replenishing opening connected with said link, and means cooperating with said link to hold the door for the rear replenishing opening in its open position.

15. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted and covering the delivery opening, a link carried by said door, locking mechanism for said door, a member operatively connected with said link to effect the opening of said door when unlocked, and to effect its return to locking position, devices to actuate said locking mechanism to unlock the door, and means to actuate said member to return the actuating means for the locking mechanism to its initial position.

16. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted to cover the delivery opening, a link carried by said door, a member having means cooperating with said link to effect the opening and closing of the door from the rear of the machine, a locking member controlled by said link and adapted to interlock with said first member to prevent its movement, and a door for the rear replenishing opening operatively connected with said first member to actuate it.

17. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted and covering the delivery opening and having a bottom plate provided with apertures, catches carried by said plate in rear of said apertures, locking mechanism adapted to lnterlock with the walls of said apertures and with said catches, and means to actuate .said door to effect its opening and closing,

a lug carried by said member, a rock arm cooperating with said lug and operatively connected with said locking mechanism, I means to actuate said rock arm to effect the unlocking of said door, and means to actuate said member to effect the relocking of said door, and to return said rock arm to its initial position.

19. In a vending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door for the delivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, means to actuate said locking mechanism to unlock the door and including a signal to indicate to the attendant that the' door has been unlocked, and a door for the rear replenishing opening controlling the actuation of said locking mechanism to lock the door.

20. In avending machine, a container having a delivery opening and a replenishing opening, a door movably mounted to cover the delivery opening, locking mechanism for said door, a member movably mounted and operatively connected with said door to effect its opening and closing, a lug carried by said member, a rock arm cooperating with said lug and operatively connected with said locking mechanism, means to actuate said rock arm to effect the unlocking of said door, and a closure for the rear replenishing opening arranged to actuate said member to effect the relocking of said door and to return said rock arm to its initial position.

JOHN FRITSGHE. Witnesses:

H. S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MOVAY.

a door movably mounted to 

